WELLER: Do you like being famous?BRADBURY:Sure. To know you are loved everywhere you go. That's wonderful.WELLER: How many books have you sold?BRADBURY: I've never bothered to ask. It's not how many that's important, it's who owns them.

How true! And I'm glad – and proud – to be among that number, Ray!

***

The portrait above was
personally owned by Ray Bradbury
and offered for sale in auction by Nate D Sanders Auctions on 25 September 2014 (part of Lot
48017) where it was described as ‘Excellent bust portrait of the author done in pencil, signed illegibly and dated 1974.’ However, the style and
signature are clearly those of the distinguished American artist and author, Barnaby Conrad.

Curiously, the portrait did not sell in the auction, and so was subsequently offered for direct sale by the auctioneers at the original starting bid. Having deciphered the 'illegible' signature as being that of Barnaby Conrad and, encouraged by David (who, like me, was impressed with the piece), I decided to give it the loving home it deserved!